294
17.2 Objectives
The main objective of the present study is to analyse the issues of development in
the degraded parts of Khoyrasole C D Block through identifying the spatial distribution of different types of wastelands and finally suggesting the appropriate measures
for reclamation of these wastelands with recommendation of some possible indigenous management strategies.
17.3 The Study Area
Khoyrasole C D Block is situated at the extreme south-western corner of Birbhum
District of West Bengal with latitudinal and longitudinal extension of 23
°
44′N to
23
°
55′N and 87
°
5′E to 87
°
22′E (Map-1). The total geographical area of the Block is
27,219 hectares (ha). It constitutes of 10 gram panchayats and 170 mouzas, out of
which 44 mouzas are completely uninhabited. Physiographically the area is under
the Bakreswar Upland which is profoundly the dissected plateau of Santhal
Parganas. On the west, the highlands of hard impervious crystalline rocks are projected. The undulations increase into high ridges near the western boundary capped
by laterite and separated by wide valleys forming ridge and furrow type of landscape where the elevation of the ridges ranges from 78 to 110 m (Census 1981).
More specifically the area belongs to the transition zone where the dissected plateau
of north-western side gradually merges into the undulating upper alluvial tract of
Gangetic Delta (NBSS & LUP 2007). The overall landscape exhibits degraded forest, degraded grazing land, gullied or ravenous land, stony wastes and small hillocks
(Fig. 17.1).
17.4 Land Utilization Pattern of the Study Area
The existing land use (Table 17.1) shows that 61.24% of the present geographical
area of the block (17,683.63 ha) is available for various types of agriculture including food grains, oil seed, vegetables, pulses, fodders, etc. on monoculture basis.
Moreover, the intensive agriculture is not practised in all the areas due to unevenness of monsoon, and thus the agricultural return is very low. Under such critical
situation, 10.84% of land belongs to various types of wastelands, which will be
analysed in foregoing discussion. Only option left is to increase the area under irrigation and to be sown more than once.
N. C. Jana and M. Pal
17.2 Objectives
The main objective of the present study is to analyse the issues of development in
the degraded parts of Khoyrasole C D Block through identifying the spatial distribution of different types of wastelands and finally suggesting the appropriate measures
for reclamation of these wastelands with recommendation of some possible indigenous management strategies.
17.3 The Study Area
Khoyrasole C D Block is situated at the extreme south-western corner of Birbhum
District of West Bengal with latitudinal and longitudinal extension of 23
°
44′N to
23
°
55′N and 87
°
5′E to 87
°
22′E (Map-1). The total geographical area of the Block is
27,219 hectares (ha). It constitutes of 10 gram panchayats and 170 mouzas, out of
which 44 mouzas are completely uninhabited. Physiographically the area is under
the Bakreswar Upland which is profoundly the dissected plateau of Santhal
Parganas. On the west, the highlands of hard impervious crystalline rocks are projected. The undulations increase into high ridges near the western boundary capped
by laterite and separated by wide valleys forming ridge and furrow type of landscape where the elevation of the ridges ranges from 78 to 110 m (Census 1981).
More specifically the area belongs to the transition zone where the dissected plateau
of north-western side gradually merges into the undulating upper alluvial tract of
Gangetic Delta (NBSS & LUP 2007). The overall landscape exhibits degraded forest, degraded grazing land, gullied or ravenous land, stony wastes and small hillocks
(Fig. 17.1).
17.4 Land Utilization Pattern of the Study Area
The existing land use (Table 17.1) shows that 61.24% of the present geographical
area of the block (17,683.63 ha) is available for various types of agriculture including food grains, oil seed, vegetables, pulses, fodders, etc. on monoculture basis.
Moreover, the intensive agriculture is not practised in all the areas due to unevenness of monsoon, and thus the agricultural return is very low. Under such critical
situation, 10.84% of land belongs to various types of wastelands, which will be
analysed in foregoing discussion. Only option left is to increase the area under irrigation and to be sown more than once.
N. C. Jana and M. Pal